Tips and Tricks For Longer Camping Trips

It can be hard to find the time to do what we enjoy. There always seems to be housework, family obligations, and just day-to-day life stuff that needs to be taken care of. Grocery shopping again? We are running low on food. Mow the lawn? The grass is getting tall. Take the truck to the dealer? That warning light won’t take care of itself.

And yet, those things are not what life is really about. None of us will say, “I’m so glad I went grocery shopping” as our last and final words. These endless to-dos are just the the flow of the tide of normal life. They are what’s done before we go have fun.

If you’re reading this, part of having fun probably means going truck camping, and doing whatever it is that brought you to truck camping in the first place. These are the passions, pastimes, obsessions and hobbies that pump excitement through our veins and propel us to living life to the fullest. In your last breath, you might say, “You’re damn right I went fishing in Alaska ten years straight.”

So what can we do to stay on the road enjoying what we love? We put this question to Truck Camper Magazine’s readership this week, and got some excellent solutions to some unexpected challenges. Goat herds? 17 cats and 3 dogs? Holy cow!

This week’s Question of the Week was, “What have you done to extend your truck camping adventure time?”

“I installed a security system at my house that is monitored. I am not scheduling our trips around the stinking lawn. I use a landscaper to mow my lawn when we travel. Unless there is a wedding involving a close family member, we don’t go back. As far as bills and taxes, we have that scheduled.” – George Visconti, GMC Sierra 3500HD, 2016 Arctic Fox 990

“We are new to extended time away from home, but have been going out for one month, then back for a couple months, and then out for another month.

We have made a deal with our mail person to hold our mail. There is no lawn and only a few plants. The taxes are done by mail.

Our house is checked on by friends, along with having an alarm and cameras. We also take a car trailer and a Chevy Volt hybrid to save gas and take in the sights without moving the camper.” – Richard Alves, 2013 Chevy 3500HD, 2006 Lance 1181

“Being one of those not yet retired folks, our camping time is controlled by how long we can pay a critter sitter as much as us having to work.

We have done dog and cat rescue for years. At times it can be hard finding someone reasonably priced to watch over 17 cats and 3 dogs, even for a few days. However, we are very fortunate to have a great veterinarian with young helpers who frees us up some for short breaks.

We do look forward to a smaller family one day. Then we’ll all comfortably retire and make longer than week-long trips.” – Jim T., 2013 Ford F350, 2013 Host Shasta 9.5

“Our major move was to move into a townhouse and leave the maintenance to someone else. We can now leave when we want and be away for as long as we want, with no worries about home and yard upkeep.

We moved to a city where one of our sons lives so that we have someone to check on our place from time to time. We can also be involved with the kids and grandkids.

So far, the longest we have been gone is two months at a time, but that is by choice. From April to November we are camping somewhere. We used to go south for the winter, but decided that was not for us because we enjoy our winter activities and family.” – Richard Jones, 2005 Chevrolet 2500HD, 2013 Wolf Creek

“We have RFD (Rural Free Delivery) mail service. Fortunately, my sister-in-law drives past our house a few times a week and picks up the mail.

When we are staying somewhere for at least a week – whether it be Galveston, Tucson or wherever – she boxes it up and sends it General Delivery to a local post office. That’s usually about once a month.

We have done various things regarding taxes; returned home, worked through the mail and phone, and filed for extensions. One of the kids checks the house occasionally.

When we were working we had to get home. Now that we’re retired we usually stay out for at least five months. Last year we left on December 18th and got back May 12th. That was a 10,966 mile trip.